A Day's Tour eBook

XII.

ST. PIERRE LES CALAIS.

As I wandered down to the end of the long pier, which
stretched out its long arm, bent like an elbow, looking,
like all French piers, as if made of frail wickerwork,
I thought of a day, some years ago, when that eminent
inventor, Bessemer, conceived the captivating idea
of constructing a steamboat that should abolish sea-sickness
for ever! The principle was that of a huge swinging
saloon, moved by hydraulic power, while a man directed
the movement by a sort of spirit-level. Previously
the inventor had set up a model in his garden, where
a number of scientists saw the section of a ship rocking
violently by steam. I recall that pleasant day
down at Denmark Hill, with all the engineers assembled,
who were thus going to sea in a garden. A small
steam-engine worked the apparatus—­a kind
of a section of a boat—­which was tossed
up and down violently; while in the centre was balanced
a small platform, on which we experimenters stood.
On large tables were laid out the working plans of
the grand Bessemer steamship, to be brought out presently
by a company.

A year and more passed away, the new vessel was completed,
and nearly the same party again invited to see the
result, and make trial of it. I repaired with
the rest. Nothing more generous or hospitable
could be conceived. There was to be a banquet
at Calais, with a free ticket on to Paris. It
was a gloomy iron-gray morning. The strange outlandish
vessel, which had an engine at each end, was crowded
with connoisseurs. But I was struck with
the figure of the amiable and brilliant inventor,
who was depressed, and received the premature congratulations
of his friends somewhat ruefully. We could see
the curious ‘swinging saloon’ fitted into
the vessel, with the ingenious hydraulic leverage
by which it could be kept nicely balanced. But
it was to be noted that the saloon was braced firmly
to the sides of its containing vessel; in fact, it
was given out that, owing to some defect in its mechanism,
the thing could not be worked that day. Nothing
could be handsomer than this saloon, with its fittings
and decorations. But, strange to say, it was
at once seen that the principle was faulty, and the
whole impracticable. It was obvious that the
centre of gravity of so enormous a weight being brought
to the side would imperil the stability of the vessel.
The bulk to be moved was so vast, that it was likely
to get out of control, and scarcely likely to obey
the slight lever which worked it. There were many
shakings of the engineering heads, and some smiles,
with many an ’I told you so.’
Even to the outsiders it seemed Utopian.